Food Allergy in Adults

Food allergy; It occurs when the immune system sees a harmless food as a danger. The immune system takes action against the food taken into the body and produces antibodies. An allergic reaction occurs after exposure to allergenic food. Food allergy is actually a confusion in the cooperation between the digestive and immune systems. When you eat, the digestive system breaks the food down into molecular components. When you first digest a food, your immune system examines the sequence of molecules and does not react if it determines that they do not pose a threat. However, foods you are allergic to will react harshly. Food allergy symptoms occur most often in babies and children, but food allergies can also develop in adults. Just because you didn't grow up with a food allergy doesn't mean you won't develop food allergies later in life. Experts have two explanations for food allergies in adults: Food allergies in adults can be the result of a delayed or long-term sensitivity to an allergen or a cross-reaction to another allergen, such as pollen.

Food Allergy Symptoms in Adults

This condition manifests itself with some symptoms in people with food allergies. There are many symptoms of food allergy. The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person. In some cases, there may be mild symptoms, while sometimes serious, life-threatening situations may occur.

Symptoms of food allergy can be listed as follows:
vomiting or stomach cramps,
itching in the mouth,
Diarrhea,
Swelling of lips,
tongue and throat,
Hives, itchy rashes,
Persistent eczema,
sneezing,
hoarseness,
nasal congestion,
Grunt,
Recurrent cough,
difficulty swallowing,
Weak pulse,
fainting,
Difficulty breathing,
Feeling dizzy or faint,
Anaphylaxis (a serious, life-threatening symptom that can impair breathing and send the body into shock).

You may show one or more of these symptoms. If you experience food allergy symptoms in adults, it would be beneficial for you to see an allergist. Food allergy-related symptoms appear within two hours after food is ingested; It usually occurs within minutes. In very rare cases, the reaction may occur after four to six hours.

Diagnosing Food Allergy in Adults

The people who will make a definitive diagnosis of food allergy are allergists. Allergists are people who can reveal whether you have a food allergy through tests and applications. For example, not everyone who develops symptoms after eating certain foods has a food allergy or needs to avoid those foods completely. Some people experience itching in the mouth and throat after eating a raw or uncooked fruit or vegetable. This may be a reaction to the pollen rather than the food itself. In such cases, making a differential and correct diagnosis is a very important element. Allergists will ask detailed questions about your medical history and symptoms to make a diagnosis. After taking your medical history, your allergist will find the allergenic food using tests and methods suitable for you. Skin-prick tests are tests that give results in approximately 20 minutes. A liquid containing a very small amount of food allergen is placed on the skin of your arm or back. A small hole is created in your skin for this fluid to leak under your skin. In a non-painful test, the condition at the application site is observed. If you develop a condition such as blistering on your skin, it means that you have a food allergy to that allergen. As a control, an allergen-free liquid is placed on your skin in the same way and a comparison is made between the two conditions. A blood test is sometimes performed to determine food allergy in adults. A blood test measures the amount of IgE antibodies against certain foods. In some cases, your allergist may also perform an oral food test to diagnose food allergy. In this strictly controlled and supervised test, a suspicious amount of food is gradually given to you and then observed to see if there is a reaction. Due to the possibility of a severe reaction, this test must be performed by an allergist and where emergency personnel and equipment are available.

Food Allergy Treatment in Adults

The first way to treat a food allergy is to avoid the allergenic food that causes the allergic reaction. The allergen determined by the allergist is the most important element for controlling your allergy. It is necessary to know the ingredients of the foods you consume to prevent allergies. You should definitely read the contents of packaged foods before consuming them. It is recommended that you do not consume questionable products. Some foods contain phrases such as "may contain". It will be beneficial for you to abstain from these foods. The fact that some allergens are so common can make it difficult to avoid that allergen. You may be confused about which foods to consume. Allergy dietitians can help you with this. Your dietician; It will give you important information to avoid the foods that trigger your allergy and will give you alternative suggestions where you can get all the nutritional sources you need, even if you remove the foods you are allergic to from the diet list. There is currently no definitive treatment for food allergy, but you can control and manage your food allergy with the help of a specialist.